CULTURE, COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY IN VISALIA AND TULARE — THE HEART OF THE SOUTH VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2017
M A G A Z I N E
VOSSLER FARMS CORN MAZE & PUMPKIN PATCH O PEN S SATUR DAY, S E P T E M BE R 3 0
VIRTUAL VALLEY
MEET A LOCAL
FITNESS
Local Businesses Need Websites and More
Paul Moore, Executive Director, CASA of Tulare County
3 Keys to Long-Term Fitness and Weight Loss Results
C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y
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INSIDE SEPTEMBER 2017
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4 VOSSLER FARMS
DMI Agency 801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 ADMINISTRATION & EDITORIAL
Executive Editor KAREN TELLALIAN Assistant Editor KELLY LAPADULA Operations Manager MARIA GASTON CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
ANDY & ERYN SALAZAR C. S. WYATT HANNAH BRADEN IMAGINEU JENNY POWELL KELLEY PETTY MISSY YAVASILE RYAN STILLWATER SHARON MOSLEY SHARON PLEIN SUE BURNS TODD OTO WARREN GUBLER GRAPHIC DESIGNER
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801 W. Main St. Visalia, CA 93291 559.739.1747 • fax 559.738.0909 email: direct@dmiagency.com B U S I N E S S M A N AG E M E N T
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Direct Magazine is published twelve times a year and is distributed via direct mail to nearly 33,000 homes in Visalia. An additional 2,000 magazines are circulated at distribution points around Visalia and Tulare. Views expressed in columns are those expressed by the columnist and not necessarily those of Direct Magazine. We are dedicated to serving the community. Please call us for questions, comments, article suggestions or for information about local events at 739-1747. Fax us at 738-0909 or email us: direct@dmiagency.com. Online Issue at: www.issuu.com/dmiagency © 2017 DMI Agency
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COVER STORY
Vossler Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch Opens September 30
DEPARTMENTS 11 PRO-PT 12 The Recipe Box 13 Valley Oak SPCA 14 Tulare Chamber 15 Visalia Chamber
F E AT U R E S
8 Virtual Valley
Local Businesses Need Websites and More
10 Meet A Local
16 Fashion 19 Visalia First 20 Seen Around Town 21 Focus on Fitness
Paul Moore, Executive Director, CASA of Tulare County
22 Visalia Rescue Mission
24 Character Counts!
17 Craft Corner
Back-to-School Apple Tree
25 Ask M.J.
18 Community Pickleball Visalia:
27 Money Matters
Eager Athletes Encourage Sport’s Growth
23 Gardening
28 College Prep 29 Crossword
What in the World is Chard?
30 Goings-On
26 VUSD
32 Warren Reports
Maintaining Success
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CELEBRATING 30 YEARS IN MEDICAL PRACTICE IN TULARE COUNTY
Opening Doors
for the M O M E N T S Y O U M A K E Mortgage Loans Made Simple
Active Medical Staff Member of Kaweah Delta Medical Center for the past 29 years Past President and Current Member of the Tulare County Medical Society
Your Goals + Our Planning = Total Strategy
Dr. Lyle B. Stillwater is an ENT-otolaryngologist and is a founding partner of Sequoia Surgery Center in Visalia
FIRST CAPITAL GROUP 119 E Main St, Visalia, CA 93291 • (559) 697-5322 • www.firstcg.com First Capital Group is a division of Right Start Mortgage, Inc. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act; RMLA#4131234. Corporate NMLS #35960 | Branch NMLS #1207011
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VOSSLER FARMS
Vossler Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch Opens September 30
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here are so many fun things to do at Vossler Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch! Vossler Farms is located on South Mooney Boulevard, just down the street from Mooney Grove Park. We are known for providing a unique environment that is fun and family-centered, and have become a fall tradition throughout Tulare County. Each year, more and more families
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enjoy all that we have to offer. Whether you’re trying to find all the checkpoints in the 10-acre corn maze, hop on an old-fashioned hayride, or simply pick out that perfect pumpkin, there’s something for everyone. The little ones have a great time playing in the corn box or riding the famous “Pumpkin Express” train. There are also kid-sized mazes, including the hay maze and the
mini corn maze. All ages can enjoy building their own scarecrow or visiting the animals at the petting zoo on weekends. Please visit the website at vosslerfarms.com for more details. THE CORN MAZE: “HEROES” Each year, the 10-acre corn maze has a unique design. The theme of this year’s maze is “Heroes.” We decided on this theme to honor the real heroes (the men and women) who have served to protect our country’s freedoms, as well as to acknowledge the family members that stay back, keeping the home fires burning. America is a great country. No matter where we stand on the political spectrum, we are afforded that stance by the generations of men and women
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who have served and continue to serve. If this is your first time in the maze, don’t worry, “getting lost” is part of the fun! Since it is on 10-acres, you will be doing a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring a flashlight if you are visiting after dark. Flashlights are available for purchase if you forget. THE FIELD OF SCREAMS Once again, Vossler Farms will open “The Field of Screams,” separate from the regular maze. The Field of Screams is a fun Halloween thrill that will get your heart racing and is fun for the whole family. This will be our fifth year, and we are excited to involve four of our local high schools. The Field of Screams will be open during the last three weekends and on Halloween night. OKTOBERFEST Vossler Farms is proud to host the Visalia Chamber of Commerce Oktoberfest for the fourth year. It will take place on Friday, September 29, and is sure to be a great night! Check out
visaliachamber.org for more information. PARTIES AND CORPORATE EVENTS Vossler Farms is a great place to have a party or an event for your company. Each year, we book many pumpkin patch and maze parties for all ages and occasions. Call (559) 9095929 or visit vosslerfarms.com for more information. Dates fill up quickly, so don’t wait! FIELD TRIPS Every year, hundreds of preschool and elementary school children take a field trip to Vossler Farms Pumpkin Patch. Once there, they are able to learn more about life on a farm. Vossler Farms is committed to providing a fun, yet educational, experience for each child. Part of the adventure is learning how things are grown on a farm, as well as the life-cycle and anatomy of a pumpkin. The classes enjoy an oldfashioned hayride with their classmates and take a trip through the mini-maze. The best part, however, is getting to
choose a pumpkin to take home. If a field trip isn’t in your school budget, Vossler Farms offers wholesale prices and delivery for large orders. Call (559) 909-5929 to book a field trip today! Call soon because the schedule fills up quickly. GRAND OPENING Join us for our grand opening on Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1. We will be featuring many local small businesses, including more than 30 vendors offering handmade items, antiques, crafts, assorted goods and services, as well as food vendors. Our annual blood drive will also be taking place on this opening weekend (Saturday, September 30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sunday, October 1, 12-4 p.m.). The Central California Blood Center needs your donation, and each donor will receive a free maze t-shirt and a free pass to the corn maze! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for our daily giveaways.
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VOSSLER FARMS
VOSSLER FARMS 2017 CORN MAZE VOSSLER FARMS CORN MAZE HOURS: Opens September 30 Wednesdays & Thursdays, 5-9 p.m. Fridays, 5-10 p.m. Saturdays, noon-10 p.m. Sundays, noon-9 p.m. MAZE CLOSED MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS CORN MAZE PRICES: Adults (12 yrs & up) – $10 Kids (5-11 yrs) – $8 Kids under 4 – free Senior citizens – $5 Current Military ID – $5 6
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(Children 11 and under are not permitted without a parent) Matinee - Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. - $6 VOSSLER FARMS PUMPKIN PATCH HOURS: Open Saturday, September 30 – Tuesday, October 31 Monday-Tuesday, 10 a.m.- sundown Wednesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday, noon - 9 p.m. Admission - $1 per person, season passes available
FIELD OF SCREAMS HOURS: Fridays and Saturdays, 7-10 p.m. Sundays, 7-9 p.m. Halloween, 7-9 p.m. OCTOBER 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, & 31 Prices - Ages 12 and up: $12; ages 11 and under: $10
vosslerfarms.com
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VIRTUAL VALLEY
Local Businesses Need Websites and More
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rying to explain the benefits of social media to local businesses often proves challenging. A handful of Central Valley business owners have suggested to me they don’t need any online presence because the Valley isn’t as “wired” as other places. That view is mistaken. My in-laws own and operate Linda’s Used Books in Visalia. My sister-in-law and wife maintain the store’s Facebook
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page, with related posts and sharing interesting stories. Yet, on a Visalia Facebook group, my wife noticed people mentioning they thought the business no longer existed, despite being open since 1982 and in its current Houston Avenue location for more than 30 years. If a business isn’t easy to find online, people assume it doesn’t exist. An active Facebook page was insufficient for the store to be found via Google or other search engines. It needed more. It needed a website. Businesses need websites, Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yelp, Pinterest, and possibly Instagram accounts, if only to monitor what customers and industry leaders share online. DMI Agency, the publisher of Direct and other local media, offers website and social media services to local businesses seeking a complete online branding strategy, as well as SEO and SEM. It is important to develop a
coherent and clear identity for your local business online. Websites are today’s Yellow Pages advertisement. I cannot recall the last time I used a phone book, but I often look for services and goods online. Not appearing in Google or Bing costs a business potential customers. A simple WordPress website and domain costs from $35 to $75 a year, including the registration fee for a domain (the “.com” address). My tech savy wife was able to create a simple WordPress site for her family’s store. WordPress offers “search engine optimization” (SEO), and extra features and SEO tools are available as plug-ins for easy installation and configuration. There are many books available on using WordPress and many consultants offer local support, too. Register a domain that reflects your business, not individual people. Obviously, a business named for a person or family should register a
C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y
TEXT BY C. S. WYATT
domain and media accounts with that name, but always emphasize the business or organization. If the name you want is taken, do not resort to creative spellings or long domains. Think about what the business does and try a name reflecting the goods or services. For example, “Smith’s Painting” might find “smith. com” and “smithpainting.com” already owned by another company. Ask yourself what customers can easily remember and type into a cell phone, tablet, or computer. Maybe include the city or county in your domain, if you only serve a local region. We use “Visalia” for some business domains because it is distinct and improves search results. You can register a domain with Bluehost, GoDaddy, HostGator, and many smaller hosting companies. When you register, most offer a discount for selecting WordPress as the platform and paying for two, three, or five years in advance. Typically, I register new domains for a small business for three years with automatic WordPress configuration. Also, I recommend the big three hosting services, though they do charge more for the higher reliability they guarantee. Many options to WordPress sites exist, offering easy website creation with drag-and-drop tools for adding text and images. I strongly prefer WordPress for small business and personal websites, and I use WordPress for several non-profit organizations. There are situations in which a content management system such as Drupal or Joomla work better than WordPress: websites with many contributors and the need for a strict editorial workflow. I have installed Drupal and Joomla for universities and larger non-profits with dozens or even hundreds of authors composing articles
on a weekly basis. If you only need to update content once or twice a week and only a few people will be contributing content, then WordPress offers the most flexible solution. Content on a website needs to be fresh, which is one of the metrics Google and Bing use for search rankings. If pages update only once or twice a year, a site falls from the top of search results. At the least, I encourage
from 32-pixels square to 150-pixels square. If your full company logo is difficult to read at these sizes, ask a designer to create a monogram or iconic logo for social media uses. For banner width images, those wider than 800 pixels, the combination of a logo and image sometimes works well. All images, from the smallest thumbnail to the widest banner, should match in color, typeface, and any graphics. Simple graphics work best online, so if you have a complicated logo from the days of ink and paper, consider revising the logo with a contemporary look for online use. Once you have a website, Facebook, and other social media accounts, follow some basic good business rules. Do not respond angrily to any reviews or comments. Always try to solve problems, especially in public spaces online. Consider Santa from Miracle on 34th Street. When you cannot help someone, directing them to another business or organization develops trust and loyalty.
one monthly update to content and ideally one update a week. WordPress was originally a blogging tool, and short blog entries work well. Announce promotions, give advice, and mention new products or services online. WordPress plug-ins provide automatic sharing of these posts to Facebook, Twitter, and other services. You post new content to your business or organization website and instantly all social media receive the news. Connecting your social media to your business website includes creating a clear visual brand across the website and social media. Do this by featuring your business or organization logo clearly on the popular social networks. A good logo needs to work well at large and small sizes. Avatars, the small thumbnails used by social media, range
Building a brand requires paying attention to your online reputation. Read reviews and comments to learn from them, not to dwell on angry customers. Small businesses need to be online, and they need an online media strategy. Once you are online, revisit and improve your online plan regularly
About the Author: Visalia native Scott Wyatt recently completed his Master of Fine Arts in Film and Digital Technology at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Scott has several additional graduate degrees and was a visiting professor of business communication at Carnegie Mellon University.
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MEET A LOCAL TEXT BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN, SMILE CENTRAL VALLEY
children’s lives for the better. I never once doubted the efficacy of this work, and guiding this CASA team is a dream job.
Paul Moore, Executive Director, CASA of Tulare County How did you end up in Visalia? I lived in Colorado until I was 12. We lived in poverty, but I didn’t know it and enjoyed my childhood there. My older sister married and she and her husband moved to Exeter. Together they convinced my mother to move to California for the possibility of a better life. I did not want to leave my friends, cousins, or favorite rivers to fish. I enjoyed the mountains and the weather and did not think I needed a better life. I came here begrudgingly in 1969 and am the only one in my family who remained. How did you get your start in this line of work? I had a mental health background before CASA and worked with people recovering from trauma, substance use disorders, perpetrators of domestic violence, pregnant and parenting teens in a group home, and private clients who preferred hypnotherapy. I’ve always been interested in the human experience from the perspective of the marginalized in our culture. I first read about CASA from an advertisement on the back of a bus. I called the number and became a CASA volunteer from 2011 to 2013. I loved being a CASA volunteer, felt a deep connection with the staff, and saw that the work we were doing as volunteers changes
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Why are you passionate about your work? I believe every child matters and CASA makes a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable children in our community. These children and youth need healthy adults in their life to emulate and need someone to stand up for their best interests. I have nothing but respect and appreciation for our county social workers and the difficult work they are tasked with. The advantage of CASA is that we can spend more time with the child and learn more about his or her interests, goals, and needs. We share this with the court so the judge hearing the case has even more information and can make the best decision possible regarding the well-being of the child. What is the most challenging thing about your job? For an organization like CASA, the more we serve, the more costs increase. It costs about $1,500 to train each volunteer, and we need to double the number of volunteers we presently have. Most of our resources come from fundraising, donations, and grants. Very few of the dollars we receive are from taxes. We need to retain and supervise our current volunteers while we recruit, screen, and train new volunteers. To complicate things further, we have areas of Tulare County that are chronically underserved. For example, in Porterville, we have more than 50 children assigned and only four active volunteers from that area. For that reason, we are opening an office in Porterville. These kids deserve the same care as all other children in Tulare County. Tell us a little about life outside of work: I have been working metal and creating functional decorations, puzzles, tools, and fabricating since I learned how to strike a torch. I enjoy working on my old Jeep and bouncing around mountain trails, riding horses,
and snooping around antique stores with my wife and daughter. I’ve ran the Seattle Rock-n-Roll marathon a few times with my daughter and will continue that as long as her body holds up. What is something most people don’t know about you? I didn’t know my father and had few examples of what healthy fatherly behavior looked like. Before I married, I made it clear that I did not want to become a father because I believed I had no ability to be effective. Ten years later, my wife became pregnant and convinced me I would be a good father despite no good examples. When my daughter was born, I knew I had what it takes and loved every minute of fatherhood. Three years later, I asked my wife if we could have another, and soon my son was born. Raising those kids was the best experience of my life. At 19, my son was killed in a car accident and my life flipped upside down. One of my greatest joys was taken away and I grieved badly for years. As I grew to accept my new reality, I became extremely thankful for each of those 19 years and very appreciative of life in general. I view each moment and each person I meet as a gift. What about Visalia makes this a great community to live and work in? So many compassionate, caring, and generous people. Visalia is no utopia by a long shot, and we have many things we are working to improve. I believe the key to a vibrant and thriving community is recognizing our vulnerabilities, acknowledging things we need to work on, and committing to make things better through respectful collaboration. Our local leaders (political and nonprofit) may not always agree on all issues, but I believe each one has a vision for a better future for all citizens and each works hard to make dreams become reality. If you were stranded on an island, what three objects would you take with you? A fishing net, fire-starter, and knife.
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PRO-PT
TEXT BYJORGE DIMAS, MPT, OCS, MASTER OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, PRO-PT PHYSICAL THERAPY
TMJD
A
ccording to research, it is estimated that over 10 million people suffer from temporomandibular joint dysfunction, also known as TMJ. TMJ involves a range of conditions affecting jaw muscles and jaw joints. For most TMJ problems, there is no definitive cause, it may be linked to a previous jaw injury, rheumatoid arthritis, or to arthritis. While TMJ conditions are not considered serious problems, jaw pain can affect quality of life and can result in long lasting symptoms. The temporomandibular joint is comprised of muscle, bones, ligaments, and discs that together form a complex system that allows us to eat, talk, whistle, chew, and yawn. If any part of this structure isn’t working properly, then you may experience pain. Pain and discomfort are generally felt along the jaw, yet in most cases, the pain and
discomfort is temporary and may be relieved by simply modifying your diet. Learning what triggers your symptoms can help manage and keep them under control. You may have to avoid chewing gum and switch from hard foods to softer foods such as soups, pureed foods, eggs, and yogurt. Common symptoms of TMJ include locking of the jaw, painful clicking, popping when opening or closing the mouth. Sometimes the jaw may get stuck when open or closed, or it may be difficult to open your mouth wide. Other symptoms may be neck pain or headaches. The good news is that these symptoms can be alleviated with conservative treatment such as physical therapy. Physical therapy is generally recommended for people with TMJ disorder and will focus on relieving pain, improving posture, strengthening muscles in and around the jaw, relaxing muscles, and improving jaw joint
mechanics. This will be accomplished through different therapeutic treatments such as massage, neuromuscular re-education, electrical stimulation, therapeutic exercises, massage, moist heat, cold packs, and manual techniques. If interested in learning more about how physical therapy can help improve your symptoms, call PRO-PT for further assistance.
My knee feels
GREAT After my knee replacement I was referred to PRO-PT. My therapist was very thorough and explained everything to me. The staff was friendly and caring. Best thing of all my knee feels great!
- Roger Trujillo
LEMOORE HANFORD 755 N. Lemoore Ave., Ste. C 323 N. 11th Ave. Lemoore, CA 93245 Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 817-5808 (559) 772-8304 www.pro~pt.net
EXETER 134 South E. St. Exeter, CA 93221 (559) 592-9000
TULARE 1132 E. Leland Ave. Tulare, CA 93274 (559) 684-0611
VISALIA 1870 S. Central St. Visalia, CA 93277 (559) 636-1200 ext.1
PORTERVILLE 1150 W. Morton Ave. Porterville, CA 92357 (559) 782-1501
LINDSAY 860 Sequoia St., Ste. A Lindsay, CA 93247 (559) 562-9040
DINUBA 1401 W. El Monte Way, Ste. 107 Dinuba, CA 93618 (559) 315-5203
www.facebook.com/proptphysicaltherapy
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THE RECIPE BOX TEXT BY SUE BURNS, IT’S OKAY TO EAT THE CUPCAKE
1 - 29 oz. can pumpkin puree (not Pumpkin Pie Filling) ½ tsp baking powder 2 tsp baking soda 1 ½ T pumpkin pie spice or 1 tsp. each cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, and ½ tsp. ginger 1 tsp salt 3 ½ C flour *Substitute ½ cup unsweetened applesauce for ½ cup oil, if desired DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Spray two large loaf pans with non-stick baking spray. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, and oil (or oil and applesauce) with a whisk. Add the pumpkin puree and whisk again until well blended. Add the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices, and whisk again. Add the flour in two batches, mixing after each batch. (You will need to use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix the last of the flour in.).
Quick Breads = Quick & Delicious
I
love baking! Quick breads, which use baking soda and baking powder instead of yeast as leavening (and therefore require no kneading or rising time), are easy, versatile, and delicious. Perfect for breakfast, snacks, and gifts, they’re a staple in our house. Years ago, I discovered that they make tasty lunches too! When my daughter started first grade, she decided she didn’t want the usual run-of-the-mill sandwiches in her lunch. Rather, she requested
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alternatives made with her favorite fall quick breads—Pumpkin and AppleCheddar—sliced and spread with cream cheese, if you please. I was happy to make them for her; I much preferred that she ate her reasonably healthy lunch rather than trade or discard it. I still bake both breads all year long, and it brings a smile to my face when I watch my granddaughter enjoying these treasured recipes now.
Pumpkin Bread Recipe makes 2 large loaves, 3 medium loaves, or 10 mini-loaves INGREDIENTS 4 eggs, beaten lightly 3 C sugar 1 C light oil, sunflower or canola recommended*
Divide the batter evenly between the two pans. Bake approximately 60-70 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean. Mini-loaves will be done in 45-50 minutes. Remove from the oven to a cooling rack and let set for 10 minutes. Turn out of the pans onto the rack and cool completely. Store in airtight bag or container. Sliced pumpkin bread is delicious plain or spread with butter or cream cheese and honey. You can also drizzle vanilla bean, maple, or caramel icing over the top of the baked loaves. For Sue’s printable recipes for Pumpkin and Apple Cheddar Bread recipes and icings, visit www. itsokaytoeatthecupcake.com.
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VALLEY OAK SPCA system is mildly stimulated. If a pet is ever exposed to the real disease, their immune system is now prepared to recognize and fight it off entirely or reduce its severity. Vaccines are a modified form of the virus itself. Many vaccines are either "modified live," which means that the virus particles are still active, only disabled or killed, meaning that the virus particles are no longer active. The virus' tendency to mutate will determine which kind of vaccine will be produced. Your veterinarian can determine a vaccination regime that will provide the safest and best protection for your individual pet.
The Importance of Puppy and Kitten Vaccinations Vaccinating your cat or dog is one of the most important steps of being a responsible pet owner. Puppies and kittens need vaccinations to protect them from serious diseases, just like children do. Adult dogs and cats need annual boosters to keep them healthy as well. The exact vaccinations your pet needs can vary by breed, age, medical history, environment, travel habits, and lifestyle. Vaccines help prepare the body's immune system to fight the invasion of disease-causing organisms. Vaccines contain antigens, which look like the disease-causing organism to the immune system, but don't actually cause disease. When the vaccine is introduced to the body, the immune
The core vaccinations that every dog should receive are canine Parvovirus, Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, and Rabies. Puppies need a series of at least four shots to completely protect them from Parvo and other potentially fatal diseases. A combined dose (Da2ppv) is usually given that prevents Canine Distemper, Adenovirus Type 1 (Hepatitis), Adenovirus Type 2 (Respiratory Disease), Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus. Another combined dose available is the DHLPP vaccination, which prevents Distemper, Hepatitis (CAV-2), Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus.
a rabies vaccination is required in order to license your pet. California requires animals be vaccinated against rabies and licensed according to their city/ county ordinance. Valley Oak SPCA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, no-kill rescue that operates solely on donations and contributions from our local community. To make an online donation or submit a volunteer application, please visit our website: vospca.org. Please like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on adoptable pets, events, news, and upcoming low-cost vaccination and microchip clinics! Valley Oak SPCA Low-Cost Veterinary Clinic offers vaccinations at 9405 W. Goshen Ave., Visalia, CA. Spay/Neuter Appointment Line: (559) 741-1121 Vaccination and Microchip Clinic: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. & Thursdays, 4 p.m.–6 p.m.
PET OF THE MONTH
The core vaccinations for felines are Panleukopenia (feline distemper), Feline Calici Virus, Feline Herpes Virus type I (Rhinotracheitis), and Rabies. These are usually administered in one combined dose (FVRCP), however, it takes a series of multiple shots to completely protect a cat or dog from disease. If only one part of the series is administered, your pet will still be vulnerable. Puppies shouldn’t be taken for walks or to parks and other public areas until they are fully vaccinated. If you board your pet or take your pet to the groomers or dog parks, you’ll need to get the Bordetella vaccination to protect them from kennel cough. Rabies vaccinations can be given at three months of age and can only be administered by a veterinarian. Proof of
My name is Panda. I am a one-year-old female domestic shorthair mix looking for my purrrfect home! I am very mellow and am your typical lazy feline who loves people. I will make a great addition to any type of family. Adopt me?
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TULARE CHAMBER
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he Tulare Chamber of Commerce exists to serve its members and citizens by advocating for, and engaging in, efforts to encourage economic opportunity and business prosperity. The Tulare Chamber supports businesses by building partnerships, providing educational opportunities, and advocating for its members and community.
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1. The August Business After Hours Networking Mixer was hosted by EECU at the beautiful Tulare branch location, 1398 E. Prosperity. Members and guests connected to grow and sustain business. 2. A ribbon cutting was held for the Scarlett Parks Foundation and in support of the efforts they are making to battle Rett Syndrome. 3. Student interns Jorge and Angelina have spent their summer working as Youth Ambassadors for Business. They have focused their efforts on a project for the Tulare Business & Education Council, a new partnership between local schools and the Chamber. 4. Join us for the 4th Annual Crush Party! This evening of wine tasting and hors d’ oeuvres also features a silent auction and the wine tree drawing for 109 bottles of wine. Mark your calendar for Friday, September 22 from 6-9 p.m. at the COS Tulare Campus.
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PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY THE TULARE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
C U LT U R E , C O M M E R C E A N D C O M M U N I T Y I N V I S A L I A A N D T U L A R E — T H E H E A R T O F T H E S O U T H VA L L E Y
VISALIA CHAMBER
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he Visalia Chamber of Commerce serves as the local “voice of business” as they advocate for businesses throughout Visalia. Each month, the Chamber facilitates a variety of events to support and further the success of the community. 12@12: The Visalia Chamber met with 12 non-profit leaders at Café 225 to discuss issues facing Visalia and how we can partner to help our community: Carla Calhoun CSET Caity Meader Family Services Liz Wynn Visalia Emergency Aid Leslie Gardner Happy Trails Riding Academy Debbie Sanchez theSOURCE LGBT+ Center Sharon Allison-Crook AMVETS Dirk Holkeboer Habitat for Humanity Ed Kemp Gateway Church Wende Ayers ABLE Industries Brandon Smith Kiwanis Club of Visalia Ray Banks Turning Point Gail Zurek Visalia Chamber of Commerce 2. Chamber Staff Team-building: The Visalia Chamber of Commerce Staff enjoyed a day of bowling as a fun team-building activity. Thank you to AMF Visalia Lanes for being such a great host! 3. Rita’s Italian Ice: During the extreme July heat, it was great to be able to officially welcome Rita’s Italian Ice to Visalia with a ribbon cutting. Thank you to all of the Chamber Ambassadors who attended this fun event. 4. Young Professionals Network BarrelHouse Mixer: On August 17, a record-breaking 212 local young professionals came out to BarrelHouse Visalia to mix, mingle, and build their professional networks. Guests enjoyed beer sponsored by Legacy Investment, food sponsored by Quesadilla Gorilla, a door prize from Tulare County Association of Realtors YPN, and heard from the featured non-profit, CASA of Tulare County.
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FASHION TEXT BY SHARON MOSLEY
Lost in Transition
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ow that you've sweated through most of the summer, it's time to start thinking about the new fall fashion season ahead. I know that for many of us, there's still plenty of steamy days to come, but it doesn't hurt to start doing a little planning to refresh those tired summer wardrobes. After all, the new fall collections will be hitting the stores and online as you read this! So take some time out now to plot your shopping strategy…even if it's just shopping in your own closet! Step One: Collect magazines. August is the month when you will see those giant "books" of fashion photography beaming up at you in the checkout aisle. Buy at least one or two or three. These will give you great ideas to get inspired. Rip the pages out and start your own "Pinterest" collection. No, you may not buy the $2,000 leather jacket, but you may find one that you love for $200. 16
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Step Two: Think, think, and think some more. Yes, it really does pay off to ask yourself a few questions about your wardrobe every now and then, especially at the beginning of a new season...and especially if your life has changed any in the past year. Think about what's coming up in your future. Any job changes? Any special events? Travel plans? (Or that dreaded high school reunion?). Step Three: Make a list. It sounds simple, but it works. An organized approach to shopping is one of the best ways to ensure that you stay focused. But then again, I also believe in the "I love it. I have to have it" theory. Step Four: Shop your closet. After you browse the magazines and make your lists, then take a look at your own closet and see what you already have. I often catch myself buying the same things over and over again (black pants anyone?), only to find several pairs in my closet that would have been just fine. Step Five: Make your accessories count. Take inventory of what handbags, shoes, jewelry, scarves, etc. you already have. What condition are
they in? What did you "wear to death" last year. What needs replacing or updating? Accessories are one of the easiest and often inexpensive ways to instantly update your wardrobe. Step Six: Replacing the inevitable. Some of us like to hang on to our possessions until the last thread is worn out. But a new season is the perfect time to consider when that cherished pair of designer heels from 1999 that's showing some wear and tear should be forever banned from our closet. Step Seven: Call in reinforcements. Enlist some help. If you have a friend whose personal style you admire, this is a good time to ask for his or her help. Invite them over and make it a party for two. Scope out your closet and ask for advice. With a glass of wine or two, you will probably get some good feedback. Step Eight: Experiment with color. This is another easy way to get the season's newest look. Zero in on the "color" of the moment. Check out the red palette for fall. Bright "Grenadine" red leads the line-up, followed by burgundy "Tawny Port," rusty "Autumn Maple," and a rosy pink "Ballet Slipper," according to Pantone, Inc., the color authority who predicts the fashion color trends every season. Step Nine: Stay in the present moment. We all have clothes that we hang onto forever—the prom dress from 1979, the bridesmaid dress from 1989, the cocktail dress from 1999—but if these clothes are not working for you now, then consider giving them to charity. I love "vintage" clothes and accessories, but sometimes we should admit the vintage in our closet has seen better days and may find a new life at a costume party! Step Ten: Be true to yourself. Whether you feel like you need to replace your whole wardrobe or you just want to buy a few new things, remember that ultimately you will be the one wearing your clothes. It's always exciting to discover a stylish new treasure. Wear things you love, and every new season will be a chance to explore a new you!
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CRAFT CORNER TEXT BY IMAGINEU CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Back-to-School Apple Tree
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his cute mini-apple tree would make a great back-to-school gift for your child’s teacher, or it could be a fun craft for your kids to make in preparation for the upcoming fall season. For this simple craft, all you need are cardboard toilet paper tubes, paint, a chenille stem, and a small tree branch.
MATERIALS: • Cardboard toilet paper tubes (2-4) • Green and/or red non-toxic paint • Brown chenille stems • Stapler • Scissors • Tree branch • Non-toxic glue gun • Green construction paper • Empty jar or can • Shredded newspaper or sand DIRECTIONS: • Paint each tube red or green and let dry. • Cut the cardboard tube into circles, approximately ½-inch wide • For the apples, take cardboard circles and put them together to form ball. Staple or glue them together. • Take 2-inches of the brown chenille and twist to make a hook on one end. Then glue the other end to the apple. • Fill the empty jar or can with shredded newspaper or sand. • Place the tree branch in the container. • Using the twisted stem, hang the apples on the tree branch. • Cut out some leaves with the green construction paper and glue them on to the branches.
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COMMUNITY PHOTOS BY JOHANNA COYNE
Pickleball Visalia:
Eager Athletes Encourage Sport’s Growth
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ickleball is on the rise in Visalia, and regardless of what its name implies, this sport has nothing to do with pickles. Earlier this summer, the City of Visalia unveiled eight new Pickleball courts at Plaza Park, thanks to the enthusiasm and support of Visalia’s growing Pickleball fan base. As a low impact sport, Pickleball attracts all ages, but it has a particular draw for the “new senior citizen.” The sport offers a great work out while improving hand-eye coordination, making it a suitable activity for varying levels of fitness ability. Pickleball is a paddle sport played on a badmintonsized court, where players use paddles to hit a plastic whiffle ball across the net. Typically, Pickleball is played as doubles, although singles is an option as well. When several Visalians were first introduced to the sport a few years ago, they began playing at Mt. Whitney High School, where they drew the court lines on the ground with chalk each night. By
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2014, there were two Pickleball courts at Recreation Park, but the demand grew quickly as athletes began coming from nearby cities to play. “I would say there were maybe 20 of us meeting once or twice a week in the beginning,” said Johanna Coyne, a local Pickleball enthusiast. “At this time, there are at least 175 active Pickleball players in and around Visalia.” When the Visalia City Council saw how the sport’s overwhelming growth crowded the courts at Recreation Park, they approved plans to repurpose two tennis courts at Plaza Park into eight Pickleball courts. The Visalia Parks & Recreation Department worked closely with Pickleball Visalia to raise funds for the renovation of the courts. Pickleball Visalia’s fundraising efforts resulted in $20,000 to go toward the conversion, and the courts were officially opened and dedicated on June 17, 2017. “The new courts are the best in the Central Valley right now,” said Johanna.
“We are absolutely thrilled and so happy to have such a fun way to exercise and be with other people. The best thing we can do for our aging population is to keep them moving, keep them engaged, and let them enjoy what they are doing. Pickleball does all of this and more. It also challenges you to practice more and find fun in competing.” Visalians who are interested in learning more about Pickleball can join the Pickleball Visalia Facebook group or email pickleballvisalia@gmail.com. Free open play for ages 18 and up is Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 8-10 a.m. and Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. The Visalia Parks & Recreation Department offers league play, which beings on Sept. 11. Register by calling 713-4365. The first tournament at Plaza Park will be Oct. 13-15, and those interested can go to pickleballtournaments.com to register.
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VISALIA FIRST TEXT BY HANNAH BRADEN
consistency of your Lord’s goodness is ever present, even when your life seems inconsistent. You have the call of victory over your life; you have His ever-present favor, even in these valleys.
Even in the Valleys
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he raging feeling of disappointment can be haunting. Struck by the curiosity of what could have been or should have been, it is easy to fall into mind battle after mind battle. You may be filled to your highest in fear, lost in what on earth is going on. No, I’m not talking about the disappointed feeling you experience when you hear news that your favorite drink at Starbucks is out of stock. I’m talking about the real, raw, aching disappointment that threatens to steal your joy and your identity in Christ. It’s a disappointment that preys on the weak, that lingers with the intention of destruction. It can come in the news of a lost job, divorce, singleness, or death. Its path leads to brokenness, robbing you of the dreams you had, the desires you clung to. Disappointment thrives when it robs you of the hope you once had. The seasons of life seem to circulate around two major locations: hills and valleys. There are times in your life
where you are nowhere else, but on the hilltop. Your circumstances are flowing according to the plan, you are receiving blessings repetitively, and it seems like you are living nothing short than the Lord’s favor for your life. You are on the hilltop, delighting yourself in the Lord’s goodness. Then there are the everdreaded valleys. They are filled with your worst fears, the moments of brokenness, and the opposite of the desires of your heart. It’s easy to question the Lord’s goodness, for you wonder where He possibly can be. How can His favor follow you to the valleys of life? Through these hills and valleys, you are at war. Your mind is constantly warring to either choose joy or sink into the waves of disappointment; to fall into the trap the enemy has for you in the midst of the waves. You see, when we choose to fall into a realm where we cannot see anything past our disappointment, we fail to see what the Lord is doing in our valleys. Sometimes the life we did not paint and the disappointment of our desires point to a dream far better. Sometimes the enemy creates snares of hopelessness, intending to deter us from our Savior. I beckon you to understand that the
Perhaps it is not our circumstances that need to change, but maybe it is our hearts. Maybe because we have victory proclaimed over us, we are to cling to that hope rather than focus on the way our life ought to be. Maybe we are to focus on our Lord’s goodness, even in the valley’s. Now this is not a mindset that does not allow mourning. Because the Lord is a good God, He allows you to mourn the dreams you once had. Because the Lord is a good God, He allows you to wrestle in the valleys. Because the Lord is a good God, He allows you to dream once again. You see, in the midst of brokenness and confusion of why our life is spiraling out of control, the Lord is giving you a chance to dream once again; to dream within this valleys of life. Our God is not a God of disappointment, but of victory. Through this disappointment, you will find healing and freedom to dream again. Sometimes you just a need a weekend with your girlfriends. Join us for our upgraded version of Girlfriends! Bring your girlfriends to the fun-filled, light-hearted Friday night event with shopping and lots of laughs, then come back Saturday morning for heartwarming worship and multiple sessions with our guest speaker, Sheri Rose Shepherd. Friday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 23 at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $15 for Friday night and $20 for Saturday with Sherri Rose Shepherd. Go to Eventbrite.com and search “Girlfriends Extended” to register! DIRECT MAGAZINE
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SEEN AROUND TOWN TEXT BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN, SMILE CENTRAL VALLEY
INAUGURAL BOOTS, BREWS, & BACON FEST A SUCCESS The Visalia Convention Center’s Inaugural Boots, Brews, & Bacon Fest was a success as approximately 1,100 people from around Tulare County came out to enjoy refreshing brews and bacon bites. The event featured dozens of breweries pouring craft beer, local restaurants serving their most creative bacon bite, and live music played by Brandon Pasion, Leaving Austin, and Daniel Rose. The second annual event is already slotted for July 28, 2018. Photo by Trisha Dean, The Good Life Photography.
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here’s always something great happening in Visalia, so Direct is highlighting the people, places, and events that make this community thrive. ‘MEASURE N’ AT WORK August proved to be a productive month for the City of Visalia as Measure N was carried out around town. In early August, Police Chief Jason Salazar announced five new hires for the Police Department, and in mid-August, the first phase of street maintenance involving reclamite began. The second phase of reclamite will be coming soon in September.
HIRE UP STAFFING SERVICES CELEBRATES ITS NEW VISALIA OFFICE Hire Up Staffing Services, in Visalia since March of 2016, is celebrating its new office location. Hire Up Staffing Services is a full-service staffing firm specializing in professional office placements, including management level positions. President Rebecca Abell, along with the Visalia team including Leah Perez (Branch Manager), Bianca Gonzalez (Recruiting Manager), and Sara Rhoades (Business Development Manager) invite you to celebrate their recent move at their new location on Sept. 14 from 4-6 p.m. at 1736 S. Central Ave, Suite B, Visalia. Call (559) 334-3454 to RSVP.
VISALIA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS HOLD LARGEST MIXER YET The Visalia Chamber’s Young Professional Network held it’s largest mixer event at the new BarrelHouse Visalia taproom. More than 200 young professionals and community members from Visalia and the surrounding area poured into the BarrelHouse taproom to meet other local professionals and expand their networks.
SUBMIT AN ANNOUNCEMENT If you witnessed something great happening around town, had a recent promotion or career change, or opened a new business, submit a short blurb and a photo for Seen Around Town or People on the Move to direct@dmiagency.com.
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FOCUS FITNESS ON
ANDY & ERYN SALAZAR, EMPOWER FITNESS TEXT BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN, SMILE CENTRAL VALLEYTRAINING
3 Keys to Long-Term Fitness and Weight Loss Results
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know we all want a quick fix when it comes to getting in shape and attaining results from our nutrition and exercise efforts. We live in a fast-paced world where we get instant gratification day-in and day-out— everything from instant oatmeal to microwavable foods and drive-thru windows. We want things fast, and weight loss and results are no exception. This is why we often get discouraged so quickly when we don’t see any weight loss or inches come off our bodies after our first few weeks of a nutrition and exercise plan. Here’s the deal—you are getting results, and everyday that you stick with it, you are getting better and better. I’m going to give you three keys to having long-term fitness and weight loss success and will explain why that’s what we all should strive for. Key 1: Make it a Lifestyle. Ditch chasing the latest exercise craze, fitness fad, or hot new diet, and find a fitness, exercise, and nutrition plan that fits you. You have to enjoy doing it for it to last. If you dread your fitness plan or if your nutrition plan is too restrictive, then the chances of you sticking with it are less likely. Instead, find a fitness and workout plan that you enjoy and a meal
plan that gives you flexibility so you can make it a lifestyle and not a passing fad. Key 2: Stay Active. You have to keep moving and stay active to keep the weight off. If you work at a job that is sedentary, you have to balance that out with your activity level or you’ll slowly put pounds back on. You have to continually stay active and move to burn extra calories and keep your strength, flexibility, and balance. Key 3: Recruit Some Help. Find an accountability partner or fitness professional who is going to hold you accountable and help push you to reach new fitness levels and weight loss goals. Make sure that you find a partner who is going to motivate you to be consistent
and not allow you to slack off when you just don’t feel like exercising. Having a partner that you can share your struggles and wins with will really help you get over the humps and struggles that you will experience. There you have it, my top three keys to long-term fitness and weight loss success. I hope that this article resonates with you and motivates you to strive for long-term health, fitness, and weight loss results. It’s time to break the yo-yo cycle of starting and stopping a nutrition plan or exercise routine, and it’s time to dedicate yourself to be consistent for the long haul. I know you can do this; I believe in you.
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The accountability you need to get the results you want, guaranteed! PICK UP THE PHONE TODAY AND CALL 559.636.FITT (3488) DIRECT MAGAZINE
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VISALIA RESCUE MISSION TEXT BY RYAN STILLWATER, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, VISALIA RESCUE MISSION
The Oath for Compassionate Service, Pt. 2
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ast month in Direct, we introduced Robert (Bob) Lupton and his first of six points found in his “Oath for Compassionate Service”—#1: Never do for others what they have (or could have) the capacity to do for themselves. Bob was gracious enough to join me for an over-the-phone interview—which you can listen to now at vrmhope.org/podcast—and had a response to how VRM is addressing panhandling and the needs of the homeless on Visalia streets. VRM: One thing we started with our Help That Helps campaign, is to share with people, “There are resources for people who need food and shelter— don’t give those things on your own because it’s typically within an unhealthy context—like the side of the road, street corner or at a drive-thru— but direct those people to a healthy context so they can see what the next step looks like. Does that make sense? BOB: It makes perfect sense and it fits exactly where I have come to over the years. I have seen in our own ministry, and certainly others, a downward spiral that happens with oneway giving. It was at this point Bob discussed number two in the Oath, which he goes on later to support with various examples: #2: Limit one-way giving to emergency situations • Give once and you elicit appreciation • Give twice and you create anticipation • Give three times and you create expectation • Give four times and it becomes entitlement • Give five times and you establish dependency BOB: I’ve seen that downward spiral
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take place time and time again. That kind of one-way giving is ultimately destructive. It deprives a person of their sense of dignity, it erodes their work ethic, and I have come to the same conclusion that you have—that we need to get out of that one-way giving and instead give them step-by-step opportunities to change their situation. For us, we had to make a distinction between what is a real crisis and what is a function of chronic poverty. A small group of VRM staff recently visited the Union Gospel Mission (UGM) in Spokane, WA. As an older and larger mission with very healthy ministries, we wanted to learn all we could. Last fall, UGM began to attach additional strings to the services they offer as well and have seen a very positive response. For those who truly want help, it’s available. For those guests merely testing the waters of recovery and restoration, they now have greater incentive to jump in with both feet, as their services now function better as a means, not the end, of one’s homelessness. About a year ago, I was catching up with a friend (currently homeless) around dinnertime. “I hate to ask,” he begins, “but will you buy me something to
eat? I’m just so hungry.” True to the oath, I said no. It was clear, in spite of my friend’s circumstances, this was not an emergency situation. “I feel awful saying no,” I responded, “but you knew what time dinner is served at the Mission and you chose not to walk over. If I were to buy you dinner now, what happens tomorrow?” It’s the empathy within us that prompts a response for today, but it’s often not the most loving for tomorrow—to truly remedy each hardship or need staring at us. While we may feel good to “help” in certain moments, as Bob said, “Sometimes good becomes the enemy of best.” Join us at our annual banquet on October 12 and see what “best” looks like. Purchase tickets to our banquet now at vrmhope.org/banquet or at Simply Chic Boutique on Main St.
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GARDENING TEXT BY SUSAN SCHIEFERLE, MASTER GARDENER OF TULARE-KINGS COUNTIES UCCE
What in the World is Chard?
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lthough it’s still very warm outside, it’s time to think about what we can plant now in order to harvest in late fall and early winter. There are many cool season vegetables, which include Asian greens, beets, carrots, chard, lettuce, green onions, peas, spinach, and turnips. This month, we are going to plant Swiss chard seeds! WHY SWISS CHARD? 1. Swiss chard is a versatile vegetable full of nutrients, including Vitamins A and C, Magnesium, Iron, and Calcium. 2. It is easy to grow and very tolerant of warm temperatures. 3. It can be easily incorporated into your ornamental plant landscape as several Swiss chard seed varieties have colorful stems and bright green leaves. The plant can be harvested a few leaves at a time, leaving your landscape looking colorful from the remaining leaves. 4. Why will your children love Swiss chard? It has a sweet tasting leaf similar to lettuce. You can make chard chips (recipe follows) and use it in lots of other recipes. 5. Swiss chard seeds are actually a bigger seed, so they are easy to hold and plant. 6. Chard is a vegetable that can be planted both in early fall or spring. The recommended varieties for Tulare/Kings Counties are Lucullus, Charlotte, and Rhubarb. Rhubarb and Charlotte chard are often grown in flowerbeds. Check your local nursery for other seed varieties.
HOW TO PLANT: • First, chard prefers a well-drained soil mixed with compost or manure to help retain moisture. • Second, plant seeds a ½-inch deep in the ground with 2 to 3 seeds per hole to ensure germination. Be sure to keep the strongest seedling if all three germinate and discard the weaker ones. If you are planting a row of chard, space the seeds 2-inches apart. Germination should occur in 5 to 10 days. • Third, thin the seedlings (in a row) to stand 12-inches apart as the plants are tall and full. • Fourth, make sure the chard has 1-inch of water weekly. • Fifth, harvest when there are 6 to 8 stalks and leaves are 5 to 6 inches, usually 8 to 12 weeks after sowing. Cut the stems 1-inch above the ground.
TIME TO EAT! Leaves and stems are edible raw, steamed, and sautéed. The stems will taste similar to celery. Incorporate chard into green salads, soups (such as chicken noodle), and even into casseroles. My favorite way to prepare chard is loved by the fifth graders at Hurley Elementary School. After harvesting the chard, I took it home and thoroughly washed and dried it. After tearing the chard into 3-inch pieces, I tossed it with olive oil and sprinkled with garlic salt. Then I spread the chard in a rectangular pan and roasted at 400 degrees for 10 to 20 minutes, turning once or twice with a spatula. The chard will turn a light brown. Cool the chips and store in an airtight container, that is, if there are any chips left to store. The fifth graders couldn’t get enough!
Happy Gardening! DIRECT MAGAZINE
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CHARACTER COUNTS! TEXT BY KELLEY PETTY, CHARACTER COUNTS! COORDINATOR, TULARE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Pursuing Victory with Honor Scholarship Recipients 2017
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or the fourth year, the Tulare County Office of Education CHARACTER COUNTS! Program recognized four high school senior student athletes with a $500 Pursuing Victory With Honor college scholarship for their exemplary character on and off the field. The recipients, who possess exceptional traits in sportsmanship, leadership, and initiative, are: LESLIE ONTIVEROS Granite Hills High School, Porterville Leslie is attending University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a Biochemistry major. During her high school years, Leslie was a volleyball, soccer, and softball standout. Leslie firmly believes, “Participating in sports gives players a reason to stay healthy, an incentive to be disciplined on and off the field, and a new family to call their own. Although I may not continue to play sports in college, I hope to come back to my community and coach so that I can impact young players in the same way that I was impacted. I believe everyone should be involved in athletics because there really is nothing to lose. And in the end, experience is gained that can be carried on for a lifetime.”
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JAZMIN RAMIREZ Mission Oak High School, Tulare Jazmin is a freshman at University of California, Davis (UC Davis) majoring in Global Disease Biology. As not only a player, but a coach of the game, Jazmin has learned many life lessons from volleyball. “In all four years of my high school volleyball career, I never received a shiny championship ring or headline in the newspaper. But what I did receive was so much more. The drive and hunger I had on the court carried over into my non-athletic activities as well. I was constantly striving for academic excellence and being a productive citizen in my community. Volleyball has gifted me with more than technique for digging a hit or blocking potential ‘kills;’ it has taught me determination and tenacity.” KRYSTAL CHAVEZ Orosi High School, Orosi Krystal is majoring in Civil Engineering at the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine). Since elementary school, Krystal has taken the Six Pillars of Character
seriously and has applied these traits in the classroom, in the community, and on the soccer field. She carries herself with grace and a smile, all while balancing academic excellence, sportsmanship, and athletic distinction as the team’s high scorer her junior year. Soccer coach Sara Carter says, “Krystal is a young lady with natural leadership qualities. She gained the respect of her teammates by being a leader who is honest, trustworthy, and a reliable companion. Krystal is a young woman with character that shines much brighter than those around her and will be an asset to any college program.” HOLDEN POWELL Mt. Whitney High School, Visalia Also a UCLA Bruin, Holden is majoring in Science and Business Economics. Although the community may know him for his excellence in baseball, Holden also understands the importance of being a multi-sport athlete and community volunteer. MWHS Athletic Director John Perez confirms, “Holden is a very competitive student athlete and believes hard work leads to success. However, success to him means not only winning, but playing the game as it was intended—with sportsmanship and respect for the opponent. Holden gives back to his community by volunteering at Visalia’s Miracle League, a baseball league for children and adults with mental and physical disabilities. Holden has always been willing to go above and beyond what is expected—not because he has to, but because he believes in helping others.”
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ASK M.J.
Different Parenting Styles
M.J. is a single mom living in Visalia. She has a Master of Science degree in Psychology, Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling Psychology, and has a certification in Life Strategies Coaching.
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ear M.J.: My ex-husband and I have joint custody of our two kids, but he recently remarried and his wife and I have very different parenting philosophies. How do I maintain my rules for my kids without undermining my ex? - Sincerely, ‘Frustrated Parent’ Dear ‘Frustrated Parent:’ The most important thing is for all adults involved to meet and come up with a parenting plan everyone can agree on. Putting your differences aside will be challenging, but if everyone stays focused on what is in the best interest of the children, then great things can happen. Here are a few things to remember:
Communicate: Set a specific time for all adults to meet once a month or every-other-week. Being able to communicate regularly and keep everyone up-to-date on any changes will help keep things running smoothly. Once decisions have been made, involve the children so they know that everyone has the same rules and expectations. Compromise: There are many different ways to successfully parent. Be willing to be flexible to new ideas and suggestions. Compromising will help everyone feel heard and okay with what has been agreed on. Be realistic: Each home will run slightly different, so understand that even when both families are able to agree on a parenting plan, things won’t be the same. Understand that though there are differences in each household, one home is not better or worse than the other.
Be respectful: All adults should agree to never bad mouth the other parent/spouse or involve the children in adult conversations where the other household is described in a negative way. Remember, this is about your children: All adults involved will need to put their own feelings aside for the greater good of the children and the family as a whole. Working with your ex-husband and his new spouse may trigger feelings, judgments, jealousies, etc. Remember that having a good relationship with them will help your children feel safe, secure, and will provide everyone with a more positive experience. Remember, you are not the first parent to go through this. Reach out to family, friends, and anyone else that might provide you with support and guidance. You are not alone.
Send your questions to direct@dmiagency.com with the subject line “Ask M.J.” All questions will be published anonymously.
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VUSD TEXT BY TODD OTO, ED.D, VUSD SUPERINTENDENT
Maintaining Success
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ast month, I described t`he opening of our two newest schools. This month, I wish to shed some light on important things that happen every summer that, if done well, can go unnoticed. With teachers and students on break, summer represents an opportunity to do significant work by our facilities, grounds, and custodial services. These folks are part of our Administrative Services Division, and every June they descend on schools as soon as the traditional academic year ends. We all understand the value of the investment in a new facility. But every bit as important is the need to maintain the investment that our existing facilities represent. Ongoing maintenance and upgrades of our buildings is an important part of our work to ensure that all students receive an education that affords them limitless opportunity for the future. We are a growing community and school district, and to meet the needs of a larger student body, we add classroom space where needed and possible. This summer, we added 13 modular classrooms to eight school campuses and moved or removed eight modular classrooms from three campuses to support growth and shifts
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in enrollment and smaller class sizes. One of the most important considerations we make every year is where these classroom facilities must be moved to and from to adapt to the needs of our student population. Providing classrooms with modern air conditioning is an ongoing project and one that we are working actively to address. This summer, we had a significant upgrade in air conditioning in the band room at Redwood High
School, and important upgrades at Hurley, Mountain View, and Pinkham Elementary Schools, and at Mt. Whitney High School. One of our greatest challenges in the near future will be to undertake the replacement of the antiquated heating and cooling systems at seven of our school sites with systems that provide greater comfort and efficiency. To provide a sense for the range of work undertaken across the district, the major projects this summer include all of the traditional construction trade areas: We had asphalt and concrete work ranging from parking lot sealing to
basketball court resurfacing completed at 16 schools. Flooring was replaced in some classrooms at 18 schools. Electrical additions or upgrades occurred at three schools. Roofing was completed at three schools. Irrigation upgrades were completed at two schools. It would be impossible to undertake all the projects that we would wish to happen across our 41 school campuses, for there are limitations to the funding and time available. As a result, we have a thoughtfullydeveloped schedule for maintenance projects that ensures our schools and other district facilities receive the maintenance and care necessary to serve the students of our community for years to come. We understand that the desirability of a community and the property values that accompany it are helped greatly by the presence of schools that are academically strong, modern, and well-maintained. Visalia Unified has 41 schools. These campuses range from brand-new to very old, and all of them require ongoing attention and repair. It is our goal that the age of a facility not be an issue in a school’s ability to serve its kids. We take our role in protecting the investment our state and community have made in our facilities very seriously, and I hope that you see the result of that in the quality of facilities that we provide for the children of Visalia.
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MONEY MATTERS Time Can Be a Strong Ally in Saving for Retirement
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ather Time doesn't always have a good reputation, particularly when it comes to birthdays. But when it comes to saving for retirement, time might be one of your strongest allies. Why? When time teams up with the growth potential of compounding, the results can be powerful. Time and money can work together The premise behind compounding is fairly simple. Your retirement plan contributions are deducted from your paycheck and invested either in the options you select or in your plan's default investments. Your contribution dollars may earn returns from those investments, then those returns may earn returns themselves—and so on. That's compounding. Compounding in action To see the process at work, consider the following hypothetical example: Say you invest $1,000 and earn a return of 7 percent—or $70—in one year. You now have $1,070 in your account. In year two, that $1,070 earns another 7 percent, and this time the amount earned is $74.90, bringing the total value of your account to $1,144.90. Over time, if your account continues to earn positive returns, the process can gather steam and add up. Now consider how compounding might work in your retirement plan. Say $120 is automatically deducted from your paycheck and contributed to your
plan account on a biweekly basis. Assuming you earn a 7 percent rate of return each year, after 10 years, you would have invested $31,200 and your account would be worth $45,100. That's not too bad. If you kept investing the same amount, after 20 years, you'd have invested $62,400 and your account would be worth $135,835. And after just 10 more years—for a total investment time horizon of 30 years and a total invested amount of $93,600— you'd have $318,381. That's the power of compounding at work. Keep in mind that these examples are hypothetical, for illustrative purposes only, and do not represent the performance of any actual investment. Returns will change from year-to-year, and are not guaranteed. You may also lose money in your retirement plan
investments. But that's why when you're saving for retirement, it's important to stay focused on long-term results. Also, these examples do not take into account plan fees, which will impact total returns and taxes. When you withdraw money from your traditional (i.e., non-Roth) retirement plan account, you will have to pay taxes on your withdrawals at then-current rates. Early withdrawals before age 59 ½ (age 55 for certain distributions from employer plans) may be subject to a 10 percent penalty tax, unless an exception applies. Nonqualified withdrawals from a Roth account may also be subject to regular income and penalty taxes (on the earnings only—you receive your Roth contributions tax free).
Presented by Penney R. Sick, Registered Principal and Jenny M. Powell, CFP® with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. in Visalia, CA. 303 E. Caldwell Ave. Visalia, CA 93277 | (559) 429-4270 | www.raymondjames.com/visalia Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards,Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the US. ©2017 Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2017. DIRECT MAGAZINE
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COLLEGE PREP TEXT BY MISSY YAVASILE, INDEPENDENT COLLEGE CONSULTANT, SOAR COLLEGE PLANNING AND CONSULTING
The Dreaded College Essay:
5 Steps
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riting the college application essay is one of the most difficult things students have to do when preparing their college applications. Most of the required essays are in a very different style than students are used to writing in their high school English classes. The
“Personal Statement” for the Common Application is probably the most widely required essay that the students I work with have to write. Don't worry about the prompts yet, however. We have found that almost any well-written essay can be matched to an appropriate prompt. So let's get started: 1. Choose a topic. One of the most challenging things for students is figuring out what to write about. The best way to start is to brainstorm ideas about yourself that you would want the college to know. This topic should be something that isn’t too apparent when looking at the rest of your application. It should be something unique about you that 28
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makes you different than other applicants. I once had a student who wrote about doing the Funky Chicken on the pier at Pismo. Of course, there was more to the story, but it made for an interesting attention grabber. 2. Show, don't tell. Once you have a topic, take the reader to the peak of the action by telling a short anecdote. Write it in first person so the reader can "see" what you experienced. One of my favorite anecdotes on a college essay was about a dance audition; the twist was that it was written by a male athlete who had never danced before.
this story and why it matters. The dancer/athlete, who was a 4.0+ student, learned that if he worked hard enough, he could learn to do something that was difficult for him to do. It matters because he was facing a long and difficult path to medical school, but he knows he can overcome difficulties and learn new skills. And he will! Conclusion. Although all personal statements do not need a “formal” conclusion, I always love an ending that makes the reader think, “Wow, that was not expected!” Or “Wow, that was an amazing twist!” The
3. Develop the body. Once you have shown the readers the peak of the action, take them back to where the story started and tell how it unfolded. The dancer/athlete went back to the time when his friends encouraged him to audition for their school musical. Of course, he had no idea he would be chosen for a lead that required a solo dance. See how that worked? Through his story, the college will be able to see an example of a problem the athlete faced and how he faced his fears. 4. Explain why your story matters. This is perhaps the most important part of your personal statement. The college wants to know what you learned from
ending should cause the reader to remember the student. I like to compare it to what the judges always say on the TV show “America's Got Talent.” If the judges love the candidate, they give them a “yes” and they say, “I will remember you.” If the candidate gets a “no,” it is because their performance is not memorable. Students need to use their own voice in the essays they write for their college applications. They need to tell the reader something they cannot find anywhere else in the application. It should focus on a short "slice of life" and it must make the student memorable!
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CROSSWORD
Performances ACROSS 1 Walks through water 6 Fish 9 Trap 14 Irish town 15 Make: suffix 16 Ethical 17 Famous Civil War novel 20 Crude mineral 21 Drunkard 22 English river: abbr. 23 Diocese 24 Cozy place 26 Took heed 28 Soothsayer 29 Eastern name
31 33 36 40 41 42 46 47 48 49 52 54 58 59 60 62
Upright Orderly Of various qualities Not suitable Musical instrument He wouldn’t grow up Account book Female ruff Poem Automobiles Abounds Piquancy Veneration Blunder Affirmation Knot in wood
LOOK FOR YOUR ANSWERS IN THE NEXT ISSUE
63 Extra-special entertainment 67 Muse 68 High priest 69 Habituate 70 Distinction in species 71 Worthless object 72 Stories
8 Superiors 9 Sea-bird 10 At present 11 Get up 12 Rajah’s consort 13 Tree 18 Style in architecture 19 Son of Saturn 25 Meddles 27 Drink 28 Steps 30 French measure 32 Contended 33 Utensil 34 Numeral 35 Rested 37 Game 38 Belonging to: suffix 39 Beetle 43 Chemical: var. 44 Declared as true 45 Born 46 The vanquished one 49 Prisons 50 Conscious 51 Ease 53 Like muscle 55 Cancel 56 Gain 57 Wooded plants 59 Poetr 61 Affeced 64 Conumed 65 Illness 66 Reminiscences PRIZES - AUGUST ISSUE
DOWN 1 Vehicle 2 Worship 3 Europeans 4 Before 5 Stitches 6 The same 7 Tree DIRECT MAGAZINE
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GOINGS-ON “CABARET” BY THE VISALIA PLAYERS Head down to the Ice House Theatre to watch their performance of “Cabaret.” Taking place at the Kit Kat Klub in the midst of Germany’s post-World War I economic depression, this meaty musical serves as a metaphor for the ominous political development in late Weimar Germany. When: 7:30 p.m.: Sept. 1, 2, 8, 9; 2 p.m.: Sept. 3, 10 Where: Ice House Theatre, 410 E. Race Ave., Visalia Contact: visaliaplayers.org
DOWNTOWN VISALIA BREW FEST Gather your friends together and be ready to taste your favorite beers at Downtown Visalia’s second annual Brew Fest, featuring more than 50 craft beers. Come down to the Old Lumber Yard at Bridge and Oak Streets to enjoy live music, beer, and fun. A portion of ticket proceeds benefit Assistance League of Visalia. This event is 21 and up and tickets are $30. When: Sept. 9, 4-9 p.m. Where: The Old Lumberyard, Bridge and Oak Streets, Visalia Contact: downtownvisalia.com
SMALL TOWN CRUIZERS— END OF SUMMER SEND OFF Come out for the Small Town Cruizers of Tulare County’s “End Of The Summer Send Off” car show. This year their charity is providing a new K-9 Officer (dog) for The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department. There will be cash prizes, raffle prizes, and of course beautiful cars and great music. Admission is free, so come and have some fun! When: Sept. 9, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Where: The Milan Institute, 6500 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia Contact: smalltowncruizers.org.
TULARE COUNTY FAIR FOUNDATION RODEO The Tulare County Fair Foundation will host a rodeo to raise funds for improvements to the fairgrounds. The CCPRA-sanctioned rodeo will feature top professional cowboys from California and beyond. Proceeds of the rodeo will help support general improvements to the fairgrounds, as well as lights, fans and wash racks in the livestock area. When: Sept. 9, 7 p.m. Where: Tulare County Fair Grounds, 620 W. K St., Tulare Contact: tcfair.org
SECOND SATURDAY ARTISAN MARKET AT THE LOOKING GLASS Now through October, The Looking Glass in Visalia will be hosting a “Second Saturday” artisan and crafters fair. Come out and enjoy a day of shopping from local crafters. When: Sept. 9, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Where: The Looking Glass, Court and Caldwell in Visalia Contact: thelookingglassvisalia.com
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GARDEN PARTY WINE AFFAIR The Green Acres Little Theatre Foundation will present its 13th annual “Garden Party Wine Affair” at the home of Chuck and Susie Nichols. There will be wine tasting, hors d’ oeuvres, desserts, a silent auction, a 50-50 drawing, and entertainment by the Redwood High School Jazz Band. When: Sept. 10, 4-7 p.m. Where: Home of Chuck and Susie Nichols Contact: 779-8164
BEEKEEPING & HONEY-MAKING AT CONGREGATION BEIT SHALOM Presented by beekeeper Darren of Kingsburg, come learn about the lifecycle of bees, beekeeping as a hobby, and honey-making. There will be honey-tasting as well. This event is free for children of all ages and $5 for adults. Dessert is to follow. When: Sept. 16, 6 p.m. Where: Congregation Beit Shalom, 115 E. Paseo Ave., Visalia Contact: 308-1333 SAUCY SEPTEMBER EVENING Saucy September is a celebration of Hunger Action Month and Food Literacy Month, featuring a pasta sauce tasting and competition, live music, dinner, a silent auction, and a raffle. When: Sept. 16, 6-10 p.m. Where: Congregation B’nai David, 1039 S. Chinowth St., Visalia Contact: 732-3600 WAITER’S RACE Join the Visalia Breakfast Lions Club for another exciting Waiters Race taking place on Main Street in downtown Visalia. Servers from local restaurants have a chance to win prizes and bragging rights. When: Sept. 21, 5-8 p.m. Where: Main Street, downtown Visalia Contact: visaliabreakfastlions.org CRUSH PARTY The Tulare Chamber of Commerce and the COS Foundation will be holding their fourth annual Crush Party. Join them for tasting local wines, spirits, cheeses, and other delicious eats. When: Sept. 22, 6-9 p.m. Where: COS Tulare College Center, Building B, 4999 E. Bardsley Ave., Tulare Contact: COS.edu/Foundation
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FROMAGE FROLIC Come out to Garden Street Plaza to partake in the second annual Fromage Frolic grilled cheese cook off event, hosted by the Visalia Parks & Recreation Foundation. Enjoy a delicious and unique grilled cheese cook-off with live entertainment by Run4Cover. When: Sept. 23, 5-10 p.m. Where: Garden Street Plaza, downtown Visalia Contact: Carol Hoppert Hays, 713-4599 WOMEN'S HEALTH AND WELLNESS DAY This special day is designed to inspire women to connect and learn about women’s health services available in our community. Come relax, have fun, get fit, and be pampered. Activities will include free health screenings and education booths, local vendors, free pilates, yoga and zumba sessions, spa and beauty services, opportunity drawings with door prizes, refreshments, and more. When: Sept. 23, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Where: Therapy Specialists, 820 S. Akers St., Suite 200, Visalia Contact: kaweahdelta.org/ womenshealthday OKTOBERFEST For nearly a decade, Oktoberfest has been one of the largest crowd-drawing events in the Central Valley. Enjoy samplings from various restaurants, beer tasting from local breweries, and incredible live entertainment at Vossler Farms. When: Sept. 29, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Where: Vossler Farms Pumpkin Patch, 26773 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia Contact: visaliachamber.org
BOUNTY OF THE COUNTY Join the Farm Bureau for their eighth annual Bounty of the County event, where guests will enjoy an evening of culinary bites, delicious drinks, and samples of specialty products, all centered around Tulare County’s number one industry: agriculture! The event will take place at Seven Sycamores Ranch in Ivanhoe. When: Sept. 29, 6-9 p.m. Where: Historic Seven Sycamores Ranch, 32988 Rd. 164, Ivanhoe Contact: tulcofb.org EXETER’S 6TH ANNUAL SCARECROW CONTEST For the entire month of October, Exeter businesses, organizations, youth groups, families, and individuals will line the charming streets of Exeter with artistic, creative, and lively scarecrows following the theme of “Homegrown and Out of this World.” You can vote on your favorite scarecrow by going to facebook.com/exeterscarecrows.com or at any participating location. When: Oct. 1-31 Where: Around Downtown Exeter Contact: Exeter Chamber of Commerce, 592-2929 TULARE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL BBQ FUNDRAISER Join the TC Historical Society for their annual BBQ fundraiser with music by the local band “Take Cover.” Enjoy a delicious tri-tip and chicken dinner and dessert provided by Haagen-Dazs ice cream. Tickets are $50 per person. When: Oct. 1, 3:30-6 p.m. Where: Tulare County Museum in Mooney Grove Park, Visalia Contact: tularecountyhistoricalsociety. org
TASTE OF DOWNTOWN VISALIA During the 24th Annual Taste of Downtown, a fabulous community of restaurants open their doors and offer a taste of their favorite menu items. A ticket admits you to all of the participating downtown restaurants, as well as entrance to wine and beer tasting. When: Oct. 3, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Where: Downtown Visalia Contact: downtownvisalia.com FIND ADVENTURE FOOD TRUCK FEST Find adventure and feed your face at the second annual Find Adventure Food Truck Fest. The event features food from your favorite local food trucks, music, beer, local art vendors, and more! Proceeds benefit programs and projects in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. When: Oct. 7, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Where: Mooney Grove Park, Visalia Contact: sequoiaparkconservancy.org TASTE THE ARTS Taste the Arts is a street art fair that showcases the variety of art produced in Tulare County. Art booths, performances, contests, and demonstrations make the event a fun time for families. Artists are asked to talk about their work and to engage the public in their art by providing demonstrations. When: Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Where: Garden Street in downtown Visalia Contact: artsconsortium.org
If you would like to have your event considered for a free listing in our “Goings-On” section, please email your submission to direct@dmiagency.com or fax to 738-0909, attention Goings-On. Please note, we do not guarantee listing of any submission. Submissions must be received six (6) weeks before publication. DIRECT MAGAZINE
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WARREN REPORTS TEXT BY WARREN GUBLER, VISALIA MAYOR
The Business Of Recreational Marijuana
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ssues relating to marijuana usage, cultivation, and retail sales have come before the Visalia City Council a number of times during the eight years that I've served. Although medical marijuana was legalized in California a number of years ago, our city council chose not to allow medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits. Now, with the passage of Prop. 64, which the vast majority of Tulare County residents voted against, California has moved to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. However, even under Prop. 64, local governments may restrict or completely prohibit any type of business licenses relating to marijuana. That issue is currently being debated in a number of local towns, particularly those with budget problems who see marijuana cultivation or retail sales as being their tax salvation. I believe that they are being very shortsighted if they allow such. There are those few who look to make a profit off this drug at the expense of public health and safety, who are very vocal in support of licensing such businesses. The licensing issue relating to recreational marijuana has again come before the Visalia City Council. Is this type of business good for our community, business districts, and neighboring businesses? Let me summarize from an article I recently read entitled "Should We Welcome the Business of Drug Dealing?" Per this article, crime is common near pot shops, including assaults, robberies, and shootings. On July 19, four individuals were shot at a pot shop in L.A. during a would-be robbery.
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Gangs and drug dealers don’t consider marijuana dispensaries as pharmacies, rather, they see them as rival drug dealers. When pot shops open in a business district, the complaints of the business neighbors are numerous, including fights, drug use, and street drug dealing increasing in the area. This in turn affects the type of clientele in that area, and thus the neighboring businesses. It is well known that homelessness has increased in the Denver and Seattle areas after legalization. Also, drug dealing dramatically increases law enforcement costs. The San Diego Association of Governments published a report finding that 52 percent of male arrestees tested positive for marijuana in 2015. Thirty-five percent reported that they commit crime to support a drug habit. The Denver district attorney warned in 2016 that every crime type in that city increased after legalization of marijuana. He said, "The Denver Police Department is busier enforcing marijuana laws and investigating crimes directly related to marijuana, including murders, robberies, and home invasions, than any other time in the history of the city." And it can get even worse. Pot industry profits are used to buy political influence. For instance, in San Diego several planning commissioners indicated relationships with the marijuana industry. They made dozens of land use votes on marijuana businesses while in these relationships. None appeared to have had a connection prior to becoming commissioners. They appear to have been approached by prop-marijuana influencers while in office. The former mayor pro tem of Coalinga, which has welcomed the industry, is now a marijuana consultant. And in those states that have legalized usage, there are no pharmaceutical protocols such as you would find at any legitimate drug store or pharmacy, as marijuana is sold as pseudo medicine. Marijuana is still illegal under federal law. Common sense and history dictates
that marijuana is still a harmful gateway drug. Don't drink the Kool-Aid associated with claims that Visalia needs the purported additional dollars that would come from taxing recreational marijuana sales. Aside from the difficulty of enforcing full payment of such taxes on this largely cash industry, particularly with the recent passage of Measure N, our city finances are sufficient. Were we to grasp the brass ring of marijuana tax money, there would be social costs involved. In states that have legalized marijuana, teen use has increased. Colorado now leads the nation in teen usage. Traffic fatalities associated with marijuana have doubled in states that have legalized. Homelessness and other social ills have become worse, where the drug is made easily accessible. Marijuana smoke has nearly all the same carcinogens as cigarette smoke, it is just as addictive, and it impairs judgment and perception. In Colorado about 40 percent of marijuana being sold is black market marijuana, despite its legalization. Visit calmca.org for statistics and other articles opposing recreational marijuana. We would be failing our youth if we allow this drug to become normalized locally. For the foregoing reasons, I have been against and will continue to vote against allowing any type of business licenses relating to the cultivation and/ or distribution of marijuana within city limits. Visalia and our neighboring communities need to continue to just say no to marijuana and other harmful drugs. On Aug. 7, 2017, the Visalia City Council voted 5-0 to not allow commercial growing or retail sales of marijuana in city limits. If you have questions or topics regarding the city that you would like to have addressed in future articles, please email Warren at warren. gubler@visalia.city. For past articles, visit directfromwarren.blogspot.com.
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girlfriends extended Friday 5:00pm - 9:00pm Saturday 8:30am - Noon Two day event starting Friday night with a light hearted girls night complete with food vendors, shopping, and lots of laughs. Join us Saturday with worship and special guest speaker Sheri Rose Shepherd as she uncovers the myth of a fairytale life.
two day event on
9.22.17 9.23.17
Cost: Friday $15 , (Groups of 10 or more get $5 off) | Saturday with Sheri Rose Shepherd $20 | Combo price for 2 day event is $35